North Hobart precinct parking top priority of consultation project
The North Hobart Traders Association says council has put the “cart before the horse” by launching a consultation project before seeking expressions of interest for the Condell Place carpark.
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THE time of a meeting to discuss access and parking in the North Hobart precinct has been changed after complaints from frustrated local traders.
Hobart City Council is currently developing a plan to guide the future delivery of better public amenity, access and parking on the Elizabeth Street retail and restaurant strip.
Traders and residents have been invited to share their views and ideas on public transport, taxi and ride-share services, food delivery services, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and on-street and off-street carparking, with a focus on the Condell Place carpark.
But the two business stakeholders access and parking workshops were initially scheduled for 7.30am, a time which Hobart Alderman and local restaurateur Marti Zucco said demonstrated council had no understanding of small family business operators and the late-night hospitality industry.
The first of the two meetings has since been rescheduled and will now start at 10am on Thursday, while the second will go ahead at 7.30am on Friday.
The community and residents workshop will take place as planned from 5.30pm on Thursday.
Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath said “all options are on the table” and encouraged anyone who felt they had something to contribute to get involved.
“Based on feedback from traders, one of the two business access and parking workshops will now be held from 10am to midday to better cater to late-night operators,” he said.
“The engagement is being undertaken by a very experienced and capable consulting team, and I am confident that every opportunity is being provided to the traders to have their views expressed and considered.”
State Cinema property owner and North Hobart Traders Association vice president John Kelly said the consultation project was still flawed, despite the time switch .
“Expression of interests for the Condell Place carpark should have been called before the consultation process,” he said.
“They’ve put the cart before the horse. It’s further delaying a process that has been in a continuous loop for 15 years.”
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Ald Zucco said the council’s “lack of any decisive action” on parking had led to “dire circumstances for some traders”.
“I have witnessed the traders put forward their concerns whereby some have expressed that they may have to close their business, ” he said.
All workshops are held at the North Hobart Uniting Church in Swan Street.
People wishing to attend any of the workshops are asked to register via the Your Say Hobart project page (via CoH website), or by email to communityengagement@hobartcity.com.au or telephone 03 6238 2100.
chanel.kinniburgh@news.com.au
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